AYSO News

AYSO and FOX Sports Announce New Partnership

AYSO and FOX Sports announced a wide-ranging partnership today, making FOX Sports and its family of networks the premier sponsor of AYSO and presenting partner of AYSO’s 50th Anniversary.

The new partnership brings together the oldest and best-known national youth soccer organization in the U.S. with FOX Sports 1, FOX Sports 2, FOX Soccer Plus, the FOX Sports Regional Networks, FOX Sports Radio and the Big Ten Network to further engage America’s young families in playing and watching soccer.

“We are thrilled to have FOX Sports as a premier partner of AYSO,” said Lynn Berling-Manuel, AYSO Chief Marketing Officer. “Their commitment to help engage young families with soccer as both participants and fans is an important statement of their dedication to soccer in America at every level.”

Throughout the five-year deal, FOX Sports features AYSO initiatives across all its platforms through on-air promotions, public service announcements and in-program messaging. FOX Sports’ presence as a media sponsor is highlighted at marquee AYSO events including its 50th Anniversary, #SoccerFEST14 and the AYSO National Games. AYSO’s 50th Anniversary is an official partner of FOX Sports Supports, FOX Sports’ charitable initiative in 2014.

“FOX Sports’ exciting partnership with AYSO expands on the great partnership FOX Soccer started with AYSO,” said Chris Hannan, FOX Sports Executive Vice President of Communications and Integration. “AYSO’s core principles for youth sports and its grassroots connection to families are a perfect fit with FOX Sports 1’s commitment to sports fans across America on all levels.”

FOX Sports 1, which launched in August 2013, hosts a wide variety of sporting events and programming, including soccer, NFL, MLB, college football and basketball, NASCAR and UFC. FOX Sports features a diverse selection of soccer broadcasts including the prestigious UEFA Champions League, England’s FA Cup competition, UEFA Europa League and CONCACAF Champions League. Beginning in 2015, FOX Sports is home to the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada, which kicks off the network’s exclusive rights to the next four FIFA World Cups, with the men’s events in 2018 and 2022 and the 2019 women’s tournament.

Since it was founded in 1964, more than six million children have played in an AYSO program, with over 500,000 players currently registered nationwide. Alumni include U.S. Soccer Hall of Famer and FOX Sports analyst Eric Wynalda as well as U.S. Women’s National Team forward Alex Morgan.